Which Way Are You Running?

Life is about movement even if you feel you are standing still. This is especially true in your spiritual journey. Believers are running with God, away from God, or running back to God.

A man in Old Testament times named Jonah ran in all three of these directions. In Jonah 1:2 God told Jonah to carry the message of repentance to his enemies. But notice in verse 3, Jonah went in the opposite direction toward a city called Tarshish. Jonah’s choice demonstrated that he was running away from God. That action carried severe consequences.

We can make the same choices without literally moving to another location. For example, when we sense an internal urge from God to help someone, speak to someone, attend a Bible study, or go to church, we resist God like Jonah did. Opposing that convicting reminder in our minds is no different than what Jonah did. We, too, are then running away from God.

In Jonah 3:3 we see a 180 degree change of direction. Of course this was after the terrible experience with the whale for three days. Jonah then ran to God. But the fruit of his disobedience brought some miserable experiences into his life. We, too, can similarly expect God’s lack of appreciation when we back away from His calls for obedience.

Then finally, in Jonah 3:4 and following, we see Jonah running with God. He was then obedient; and as a result, God used Jonah and hundreds of people turn to the Lord.

Yes, we are all moving! Make that movement toward or with God. Listen carefully to that voice, that urging, that internal conviction to do the things that please God. Then walk in concert with that voice of God. Running with God is much more pleasant and fruitful that running according to the voice of selfishness.

Dick Crosby, Senior Pastor